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Ian Sanders is a busy guy.
At the Ian Sanders Company he works with businesses to help them launch new ventures, take ideas to market and stay distinctive and effective.
He’s also author of ‘Leap! Ditch Your Job, Start Your Own Business & Set Yourself Free’ and ‘Juggle! Rethink Work, Reclaim Your Life’. And if that wasn’t enough he’s also interviewed some of the most high-profile entrepreneurs around for his brilliant video series.
All that aside, he was still kind enough to spend a few minutes answering a few quick questions about business ideas, starting up and ‘unplanning’ your business.
I: Ian, you describe yourself as a ‘potentialiser’ of businesses. Could you tell us a little more about that?
I see so many brands, businesses and ideas that have great potential but for whatever reason, they fall short on delivery. Through ‘wow’ ideas, I aim to help clients boost and exploit their potential.
It could be leveraging their market position to get more business or to be more distinctive; or perhaps reigniting their organisation or firing up their entrepreneurial spirit.
I: One of your books, Juggle, talks about ‘portfolio lifestyle’ and creating a work life that incorporates all your talents. Is there a risk of becoming a ‘jack of all trades and master of none’?
Good question! Juggle is about creating a worklife that reflects your multi-dimensional talents. But it’s about holding up a mirror, it’s got to be authentic. So long as your portfolio is based on your genuine talents and passions then I don’t think people risk becoming ‘master of none’.
Just because you are good at more than one thing does not mean you dilute your skills. But sure, there’s a myth that says ‘jack of all trades, master of none’. I’m just trying to bust that myth!
I: You’re launching your new idea, ‘Unplan Your Business’ at SxSW next month – what’s it all about?
‘Unplan is your business’ is a response to what I have learnt in my career. Traditional business culture tells us that if we have a good idea we have to ‘plan it’. Spreadsheets, financial projections, a 3 or 5 year plan.
But that’s crazy. How can we predict the future? I’ve seen too many ideas get paralysed by over-analysis. Isn’t it better to launch, prototype our business ideas in the marketplace instead?
I: You’ve interviewed some interesting people like Gary Vaynerchuck and Mike Southon in your videos, what, if anything, would you say that they have in common?
Passion and Authenticity. You have to have passion to succeed, and you’ve got to be true to yourself. That’s it! Now that doesn’t have to manifest in BIG confident passion like Gary V, but you have to believe in yourself and be the Real You.
I: If you had one piece of advice for someone considering starting a business, what would it be?
Focus on Making It Happen. Too many ideas sit on shelves, spreadsheets. So make sure your idea gets launched. If it’s good enough, if it has a point of differentiation, if it has a viable business model, it will succeed.
For more from Ian visit: iansanders.com
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